As he prepares to end his four-month injury absence, Liam Farrell believes the foundations are in place for 2016 to be a year to remember for Wigan. Farrell has been sidelined since the beginning of April with a rib injury but is expected to return on Friday when Wigan travel to Castleford looking to keep up the pressure on the league leaders, Hull FC.
Despite Wigan falling short in the Challenge Cup against Hull a fortnight ago, the Grand Final and the often underrated prize of the League Leader’s Shield are still up for grabs.
“It could still be a special year despite the cup, don’t worry about that,” Farrell said. “Our first aim is top spot; we’re in a good position with where we are and hopefully we can grind it out, finish top and get in a good position for those semi-finals.”
The League Leader’s Shield has been regarded as a secondary prize in Super League in recent years but Farrell said that, following the dramatic final round last year in which Leeds claimed first place at the expense of the Warriors, Wigan are more determined than ever to finish top of the competition, for what would be the fourth time in 20 years.
Farrell said: “Since the new league structure came in a bit more emphasis has been put on top spot; it’s more important to us after Leeds snatched it from us at the death last year. It’s a good system in my opinion and we’re determined to claim top spot this year after coming so close 12 months ago.”
Of the Grand Final, Farrell said: “I’ve been lucky enough to win a couple but the pain associated with losing the last two is seriously hard to take.
“It’s not good enough for a club like Wigan to be just getting to the Grand Final, we have high standards here. Being at Old Trafford isn’t enough; we have to start winning things again, this top spot followed by the big one at Old Trafford are our aims this year.”
The England international last played on 1 April against Warrington and is focused on making up for lost time.
“Games like the St Helens derby, the big Leeds games and the cup semi-final, they’re the games you’re desperate to play in and it makes it tough to have to watch the boys play in big matches without you,” he said. “That will only make me more determined to play in some big games with Wigan over the coming months, though.
“You can’t go out and help the boys when you’re on the sidelines; mentally it’s tough to deal with because you feel stranded and stuck in your own little bubble. It just makes you more determined to get fit. It can be tough on your own but now I’m determined to play a role this year and make some more history with this club.”
